Drapery support fixture



July 4, 1967 F, F. SALZMANN DRAPERY SUPPORT FIXTURE Filed 001;. 1, 1965 United States Patent 3,329,384 DRAPERY SUPPORT FIXTURE Ferdinand F. Salzmann, Madison, Wis., assignor to Graber Manufacturing Company, Inc., Middleton, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 491,908 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-265) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rod-supporting fixture which is supported on a bracket having a laterally extending saddle. The fixture includes a pulley housing having a front wall in front of the saddle to hide the same, and a rear wall in front of the rear leg of the saddle.

This invention relates to improvements in fixtures for use in supports for draperies, curtains, tapestries, and the like.

For convenience, the improved fixture of the present invention is herein sometimes referred to as a drapery support fixture; however, this is done by way of illustration and it should be understood that the term drapery includes curtains, tapestries, and other similar flexible hangings.

The present invention is adapted primarily for use in combination with a standard C-section drapery rod and a supporting bracket of the type having a laterally extending socket or saddle of generally U-shape and a pendant depending from the socket. Both structures are well known in the art. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fixture which may be used in combination with the above described standard drapery rod and supporting bracket.

Another object is to provide a drapery support fixture in accordance with the foregoing which substantially hides the socket and pendant and provides an attractive connection to both the bracket and rod.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drapery support fixture having pulleys which are readily accessible and which fixture is adaptable for mounting on a generally horizontal surface.

Other objects are to provide a drapery support fixture which may be readily formed from a metal stamping, which is sturdy, and which is easily assembled to a rod and supporting bracket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one end of a drapery support including an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the support shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 1; i

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified form of the housing.

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. In general, the drapery support includes an elongate rod, generally designated by the numeral 10, a support bracket designated 12, and a fixture, generally designated 14. Elongate rod 10 may be any one of several well-known construc- "ice tions which may be generally horizontally supported. In the embodiment illustrated, the elongate rod is hollow and has a C-shaped cross-section described by a front wall 21, a top wall 22, a bottom wall 23, and a rear wall. The rear wall has an upper portion 24 and a lower portion 25 having adjacent edges spaced apart to define a rearwardly opening slot extending generally the full length of the rod, as best seen in FIG. 3. Such a slot is usual and serves to carry slides for supporting draperies and the like and which are not shown because they are conventional. An opening 28 is provided in top wall 22 adjacent an end of the rod for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

Support bracket 12 may be any one of several brackets well known in the art which includes a laterally extending socket or saddle and a pendant depending therefrom. In the embodiment illustrated, bracket 12 is adaptable for mounting on a vertically disposed supporting surface 16 as by fasteners 31 passing through openings in a flange 32. The bracket includes an outwardly extending arm made up of a first portion 33 attached to flange 32 and a second portion 34 conveniently slidably mounted in the first portion as by fastener 35. A laterally extending socket or saddle is attached to portion 34 and is of generally U- shaped configuration described by a front leg 36 and a rear leg 37 connected by an intermediate portion 38. As best shown in FIG. 1, front leg 36 is attached to portion 34 and the rear leg and intermediate portions are spaced therefrom. A pendant 40, best shown in FIG. 2, is attached to and depends from the front leg 36 and is generally coplanar therewith. The pendant usually has an opening 41 for receipt of a drapery hook (not shown) but theopening may be utilized for another purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

Fixture 14 generally includes a pulley housing supportable on said laterally extending socket. The fixture itself has a socket adjacent one end of the housing for generally surrounding and engaging the end of rod 10. The socket includes a front wall 51, a top wall 52, a bottom wall 53, and a rear wall for engaging the respective portions of elongate rod 10. The rear wall includes an upper portion 54 and a lower portion 55 having their edges spaced apart to define a rearwardly opening slot and leaving the slot in the rod uncovered, thereby allowing the slides to move in the rod slot to the extreme ends thereof. The top wall 52 of the socket has a downwardly extending boss 56 for engaging the opening 28 in the rod to restrain the rod from lateral removal from the socket. The pulley housing includes a top wall 61 and generally parallel front and rear walls 62 and 63 depending therefrom. A pair of pulleys 64 and 65 are rotatably mounted between the front and rear Walls as on transverse axles 64a and 65a, respectively. As best shown in FIG. 5, front wall 62 preferably lies closely adjacent front leg 36 and pendant 40 and extends from the uppermost portion of leg 36 to a level adjacent the lower end of the pendant. When assembled, rear wall 63 is disposed in front of rear leg 37 of the U-shaped saddle and a projection 67 extends forwardly from rear wall 63 to engage intermediate portion 38. A finger 68 (FIG. 5) depends from projection 67 for engaging the edge of the intermediate portion to restrain the fixture frorn lateral removal from the U-shaped saddle. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a finger 68a projects rearwardly from rear wall 63 for engaging the edge of the rear leg 37 to restrain the fixture from lateral removal from the saddle. A boss 69 extends rearwardly from back wall 63 for engaging the rear leg 37 to aid in securing the fixture in the saddle. Front wall 62 conveniently has a plurality of openings 72 therein and,

' when desired, a fastener 74 may pass through one of these 3 openings and into opening 41 in the pendant to provide added stability.

As best shown in FIG. 3, rear wall 63 has an opening therein to provide access to the pulleys as for arranging a cord (not shown) therearound. As shown in FIG. 1, top wall 61 has a rearwardly extending portion 76 formed of the material from the opening in the back wall. A plurality of openings 77 are provided in extension 76 for passage of fasteners to adapt the fixture for mounting adjacent a horizontally disposed surface.

Fixture 14 is preferably formed by stamping and is advantageously arranged for economical utilization of available material. As explained above, extension 76 is formed of material provided by the opening in the back wall sirnilarly, projection 67 is formed from material taken from back wall 63. The front wall of the socket is conveniently an extension of the front wall of the housing and the bottom wall 53 and rear wall portion 55 are formed from the material from the area which would be an extension of the housing front wall. The openings and bosses above-described are also conveniently formed during the stamping operation. In this manner, the fixtures can be economically fabricated with a minimum amount of waste.

As best seen in FIG. 5, projection 67 may extend forward and engage the rear side of front wall 36. While this provides a certain amount of stability, yet there is a tendency for the fixture to rotate forwardly out of the U-shaped socket. Such rotation is prohibited by the support of pendant 40 as it engages housing front wall 62. Thus, the fixture is best used with a bracket having a depending portion such as pendant 40.

It is now deemed obvious that the drapery support bracket of the present invention is easily assembled to a rod and supporting bracket, substantially hiding the socket and pendant of the bracket, and providing a sturdy, but attractive connection thereto.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation, and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a support for draperies and the like including a horizontally disposed elongate rod; and bracket means adaptable for engaging a supporting surface and having an upwardly opening saddle extending laterally therefrom, and a pendant depending from said saddle and generally coplanar with the front side thereof; the improvement comprising: a fixture including a pulley housing and a socket adjacent one end of the pulley housing engaging said rod for supporting the same, said pulley housing having a frontwall disposed in front of said laterally extending saddle and extending at least from the uppermost portion thereof to a level adjacent the lower end of said pendant for covering the laterally extending saddle and pendant, said housing having means for engaging said laterally extending saddle and supporting said fixture.

2. In a support for draperies and the like including a horizontally disposed elongate rod; a bracket having a rearwardly extending arm, a saddle extending laterally from said arm and attached thereto, and a pendant depending from said saddle and generally coplanar with the front. side thereof, said pendant having an opening adjacent the lower end thereof; and means for mounting the support on a supporting surface; the improvement comprising: a fixture including a housing and a socket adjacent one end of the housing and engaging said rod for providing a Supporting connection between the rod and fixture, said housing having a front wall closely adjacent the front side of said laterally extending saddle and extending at least from the uppermost portion thereof to a level adjacent the lower end of said pendant for covering the laterally extending saddle and pendant, said housing having means for engaging said laterally extending saddle, said front wall having an opening therein generally aligned with the pendant opening, a fastener passing through said front wall opening and said pendant opening, said fastener and said last-mentioned means providing a supporting connection between said bracket and fixture.

3. In a support for draperies and the like including a horizontally disposed elongate rod having an opening in the top and adjacent one end thereof; and a bracket having support means adaptable for engaging a supporting surface, a saddle attached to said support means and extending laterally therefrom, said saddle having a lower portion and a rear portion each having an edge laterally spaced from said support means, and a pendant depending from said saddle and generally coplanar with the front side thereof; the improvement comprising: a fixture including a pulley housing and a socket adjacent one end of the pulley housing for generally surrounding and engaging the rod adjacent said end, said socket having a depending boss on the top side thereof for engaging the opening in the rod to restrain the same from lateral removal from the socket, said pulley housing having a front wall disposed in front of said laterally extending saddle and extending at least from the uppermost portion thereof to a level adjacent the lower end of said pendant for covering the laterally extending saddle and pendant, said pulley housing having a rearwardly extending top wall attached to said front wall and a back wall depending from the top wall, said back wall having forwardly extending means engaged with said lower portion of the saddle for supporting said fixture, and a means on the pulley housing and engaged with one of said laterally spaced edges of the saddle for restraining the fixture from lateral removal from the saddle.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the last-mentioned means includes a finger depending from said forwardly extending means and engaged with said lower portion edge.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the last-mentioned means includes a finger extending rearwardly from the back wall of the housing and engaged with said rear portion edge.

6. In a support for draperies and the like including a horizontally disposed elongate rod having a rearwardly opening slot extending generally the full length thereof; and a bracket having support means adaptable for engaging a supporting surface, a generally U-shaped saddle extending laterally from said support means and having front and rear legs connected by an intermediate portion adjacent the lower ends thereof, said front legs attached to said support means and said rear leg and intermediate portion each having an edge spaced laterally therefrom, and a pendant depending from said front leg and generally coplanar therewith; the improvement comprising: a fixture including a pulley housing and a socket adjacent one end of the pulley housing for generally surrounding and engaging the rod adjacent said end, said socket having a rearwardly opening slot therein for leaving the slot in the rod uncovered, said pulley housing having a top wall and generally parallel front and rear walls depending therefrom, pulley means rotatably mounted between said front and rear walls, said front wall being closely adjacent the front leg of said U-shaped saddle and extending at least from the uppermost portion thereof to a level adja cent the lower end of said pendant, said rear wall disposed in front of the rear leg of the U-shaped saddle and having a rearwardly extending boss for engaging said rear leg, said rear wall having means for engaging the intermediate portion of the U-shaped saddle, and a means on the pulley housing and engaged with one of said laterally spaced edges of said rear leg and intermediate portion for restraining the fixture from lateral removal from the U- shaped saddle.

7. In a support for draperies and the like including a horizontally disposed elongate rod having a rearwardly opening slot extending generally the full length thereof, a bracket having a rearwardly extending arm, a generally U-shaped saddle extending laterally from said arm and having front and rear legs connected by an intermediate portion adjacent the lower ends thereof, and a pendant depending from said front leg and generally coplanar therewith, said pendant having an opening adjacent the lower end thereof; and means for mounting the support on a supporting surface; the improvement comprising: a fixture including a pulley housing and a socket adjacent one end of the pulley housing and engaging the rod for providing a supporting connection between the rod and fixture, said socket having a rearwardly opening slot therein for leaving the slot in the rod uncovered, said pulley housing having a top wall and generally parallel front and rear walls depending therefrom, said front wall being closely adjacent the front leg of said U-shaped saddle and extending at least from the uppermost portion thereof to a level adjacent the lower end of said pendant, said front wall having an opening therein generally aligned with the pendant opening, a fastener passing through said front wall opening and said pendant opening, pulley means rotatably mounted between said front and rear walls, said rear wall having an opening adjacent the top thereof for providing access to said pulley means, said rear wall disposed in front of the rear leg of the U-shaped saddle and having a rearwardly extending boss for engaging said rear leg, said rear wall having means for engaging the intermediate portion of the U-shaped saddle, and cooperating with said boss and said fastener to provide a supporting connection between the bracket and fixture.

8. In a support for draperies and the like including a horizontally disposed elongate rod; and a bracket having support means adaptable for engaging a supporting surface, and a saddle extending laterally from said support means and having front and rear legs connected by an intermediate portion adjacent the lower ends thereof; the improvement comprising: a fixture including a pulley housing and a socket adjacent one end of the pulley housing for engaging the rod and providing a supporting connection therewith, said pulley housing having a top wall and front and rear walls depending therefrom, pulley means rotatably mounted between said front and rear walls, said front wall having a portion in front of the front leg of the saddle and extending at least from the uppermost portion thereof to a level adjacent the lower end thereof, said rear Wall having a portion disposed in front of the rear leg of the saddle, and means on the rear wall for engaging the saddle and supporting the fixture.

References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,399 6/1963 Graber et a1 248-265 X 2,486,224 10/1949 Stutz -345 2,747,218 5/ 1956 McMurray 248-262 X CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SUPPORT FOR DRAPERIES AND THE LIKE INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ELONGATE ROD; AND BRACKET MEANS ADAPTABLE FOR ENGAGING A SUPPORTING SURFACE AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY OPENING SADDLE EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM, AND A PENDANT DEPENDING FROM SAID SADDLE AND GENERALLY COPLANAR WITH THE FRONT SIDE THEREOF; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A FIXTURE INCLUDING A PULLEY HOUSING AND A SOCKET ADJACENT ONE END OF THE PULLEY HOUSING ENGAGING SAID ROD FOR SUPPORTING THE SAME, SAID PULLEY HOUSING HAVING A FRONTWALL DISPOSED IN FRONT OF SAID LATERALLY EXTENDING SADDLE AND EXTENDING AT LEAST FROM THE UPPERMOST PORTION THEREOF TO A LEVEL ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF SAID PENDANT FOR COVERING THE LATERALLY EXTENDING SADDLE AND PENDANT, SAID HOUSING HAVING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID LATERALLY EXTENDING SADDLE AND SUPPORTING SAID FIXTURE. 